Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.                                             John 19:26-27  “We should be truly grateful, Jesus’ Mother didn’t carry grudges,” remarked Joel, a seventeen year old attending his high school retreat “Why’s that?” asked his classmate. “Just look at what we did to her Son!” He responded. “And she still keeps loving us. Wow! That’s real love!”

What a great insight from such a wise teenager? Joel’s words points out an urgent truth. Given all the hurtful and cruel things we did and often still do to Jesus through negligence and sin, Mary never looks at us with a heart full of anger or revenge.

Mary keeps us all in her merciful heart which beckons us to go freely to her with trust and confidence. No matter how far or how frequently we wander from her Son even now. Mary never carries a grudge only a compassionate desire that we all go home to her Son. “Wow! That’s real love.”

Mary literally took to her heart Jesus whispered words on the cross: “Woman, behold your son. Gazing at John, standing next to her, Mary also hears: “Behold all your children.” At that moment, Mary showed the power her love and mercy. She reveals for all of us to see how forgiveness and healing works.

Today, as our mother, Mary still desires that the salvation her Son gained for us be truly ours. She prays that we embrace her Son’ sacrifice and follow Him everyday of our journey.

For Mary knows that when we respond to His love, we are living Jesus and her Son’s mission lives on.  As St. Francis de Sales said:

“Holy Mother of God . . .you were to give the Son a mother’s love in time, to echo the love the Father had for Him in eternity.”

And with Joel our best response still is “WOW” !